The Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce will be working with a budget of about 10 percent more than last year.

The board of directors approved a $561,400 budget for the fiscal year at its monthly meeting Tuesday. Chamber President Kirk Mancer said the increase from last year’s budget of about $500,000 reflects growth in the Chamber’s activities.

New members should provide more revenue, he said. Increased expenditures will go to programs like the Small Business Person of the Year Awards, which were handled as part of other Chamber events in previous years.

With thousands of defense-industry jobs moving to Huntsville’s Redstone Arsenal as part of base realignment and closure in coming years, the Chamber is also spending money to attract some of those workers to live in Cullman.

“We anticipate more membership revenue,” Mancer said. “With the additional programs and BRAC, there’s a need for the Chamber to bring in some more revenue.”

That’s what the Chamber will try to accomplish with its annual blitz June 12-23. Laurie Ewing, vice chair for membership, said the Chamber wants about 25 recruiters, volunteers from member businesses, to reach out to non-member businesses. Less than 10 have been lined up at this point.

Peggy Smith, director of the Cullman Economic Development Agency, updated the board on potential industry expansions in the area. Two local companies have agreed to purchase the last available parcels in Industrial Park II, and another two companies have expressed interest in the last unoccupied spec building. A company related to the auto industry has looked at a spec building in Hanceville.

The board also welcomed two new members Tuesday. Ken Caviness, general manager of Walmart Distribution Center, filled a vacancy left when board member Albert von Pelser of Rehau was transferred to Virginia. Fred Cespedes, group vice president for American Proteins, stepped into a seat left when Elaine Cole of the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service was named to the Chamber’s Executive Committee. Both are active in several community organizations.

“Anything positive going on in this community, these two men will be involved,” Chairman Ed Darling, publisher of The Cullman Times, said of Caviness and Cespedes.

Upcoming Chamber events include:

• Thursday: A membership reception at the Chamber from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• May 26: The monthly luncheon at All-Steak Restaurant at 11:30 a.m., featuring winners of the recent Small Business Person of the Year Awards.

• June 28: The annual Beautification Awards luncheon at All-Steak Restaurant at 11:30 a.m.

Chamber offices will be closed May 29 for Memorial Day.